Putnam superintendent on probation

The Florida Department of Education has placed Putnam County superintendent David Buckles on six months probation and ordered him to donate $500 to a scholarship fund, amid allegations that former commissioner Jeanine Blomberg wrote "may result in a finding of probable cause to sanction your Florida Educator Certificate," the Palatka Daily News reports.

The complaint stems from some closed-door meetings during 2004, in which Buckles reportedly tried to get a long-time educator to dissuade a possible opponent from running against him. To read the full report, click here.

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.